Psalm for Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 118:  1-2, 16-17, 22-23   (Read)

“This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad.”

Jesus’ risen presence among us

is living proof of God’s enduring love. 

As the psalmist says, “God’s love endures 

forever.”  The Lord’s deliverance is cause

for joy.  Just when we were down, the Lord 

raises us up. The joyful shout of deliverance

is heard. We are on firm ground after all – 

Christ has become our cornerstone.

In the Psalm we read in advance of the 

Paschal Mystery. Christ, who is rejected 

and then exalted, becomes the foundation

stone of the new People of God -- 

“I shall not die, but live and declare the 

works of the Lord.” This is Jesus speaking 

about His own resurrection and about His 

food, which is to do the work of the Father.

The Psalm says, “The right hand of the 

Lord has struck with power; the right hand 

of the Lord is exalted.” Our days of mocking 

our Savior are over; we no longer hurl insults 

at Him. 

Our savior has risen. “By the Lord has this 

been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.”

“The joyful shout of deliverance is heard in 

the tents of the victors.” The Psalm celebrates 

a great victory over death. This victory is 

delivered by the Lord’s right hand, a clear 

notice in advance of the power of the Son of God.

Our risen Savior has defeated death and the 

grasp that sin has on us. And having been saved,

what are we to do? What is our commission? 

St Peter tells us in today's first reading, “He 

commissioned us to preach to the people and 

testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God.” 

(Acts 10:42)

Christ has become our cornerstone. “The stone 

the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

Christ has become a source of strength for us, 

despite his apparent weakness that day on the cross, 

when He died a shameful death. Only the Lord 

could have done this remarkable thing:

“This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad.”

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

 
1.  The Psalm speaks of a great victory over death, 'I shall not die, but live.'  
Tell of how you share in Christ's victory over death and what this means to you.

2.  Having been saved from death, the psalmist says he will 'declare the works of 

the Lord.'   Speak of how you are empowered by our Lord's resurrection to go forth 

and proclaim the Gospel.

Psalm for Palm Sunday, April 14, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24  (Read)

“My God, my God, why have you 

abandoned me?”

David writes this psalm almost as 

though it were planned to be part 

of the Passion of Christ.  In fact 

the psalm becomes the prayer of 

Christ at the time of his crucifixion 

and speaks of the suffering that our 

Savior experiences on our behalf.

People are the same today as they were 

back then, when Jesus was being led to 

the cross.  We scoff at him; we mock him; 

we wag our heads and hurl insults at him.

Why?

Because he becomes contemptible in 

our eyes. He reminds us that we are a 

sinful people; he convicts us; he catches 

us in the lie;  he embarrasses us; he 

exposes us; he accuses us of being 

hypocrites. 

He holds us to a higher standard;

He speaks directly to God; 

He claims to be God's Son; 

and we reject him for this; and mock him. 

We do not move to assist him. 

Let God rescue him – 

“He relied on the Lord; let him deliver him;

let him rescue him, if he loves him.” 

These words of the psalm are the same 

words used by those who conspired against 

Jesus when he was dying on the cross. 

They did not realize that the suffering and 

death of an innocent servant would restore 

life for sinful man. The words they spoke 

were to be fulfilled, not by Jesus coming 

down from the cross, but by sinful humanity 

like us being delivered, forgiven, 

and lifted up. 

We are reminded by St Paul in today's second 

reading that Christ takes the form of a slave, 

obedient even to death for our sake. 

(Philippians 2:7-8) 

Isaiah in today's first reading speaks 

about the Messiah long before his birth and 

predicts that he will be beaten, and his beard 

will be plucked. (Isaiah 50:4-7)

But the servant does not rebel (as Isaiah tells us).

He knows that he will not be put to shame. 

God the Father is not far off, even when Jesus lies 

hanging on the cross. The psalm describes the 

Passion of Christ, and we know that what seemed 

like a moment of weakness for Christ became a 

source of strength for sinful humanity. 

Ultimately God reverses this righteous man’s 

condition.  As our psalmist says, “But you, O Lord, 

be not far from me; O my help, hasten to aid me.” 

Hope returns, the righteous man is delivered, and he 

celebrates his deliverance – “I will proclaim your name 

to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will 

praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him.”

Amen

 

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.   Were you part of the crowd of evildoers who closed in on Christ, that our 

psalmist speaks about?   Tell of what part you play even today in mocking Christ.

2.   The psalm asks, 'My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?'  Do you 

believe that our Lord was truly abandoned by the Father?

  

Psalm for Sunday, April 7, 2019

Reflections 

Psalm 126:  1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6  (Read)

“When the Lord brought back the captives

of Zion, we were like men dreaming.” 

 

What God did for the Israelites, he does 

also for us.  The Jews were liberated from 

being captives of the wicked Babylonians, 

and we are liberated from the captivity of sin 

by that same God who sent his Son to save us. 

Just as the woman in the Gospel this Sunday 

is saved from being stoned to death, Jesus 

redeems all of us from our wicked ways.

God takes pleasure in restoring us, as the 

psalmist says, and his pleasure is reflected 

by the joy in our hearts when we are reconciled 

with Him. “Our mouths [are] filled with laughter; 

our tongues [sing] with joy.” 

It may seem like we are dreaming when we 

make our own Exodus from our past lives of 

disobedience.  The future may be filled with 

a few dry stream beds, but if we are diligent 

and sow the seeds of repentance, we will be 

rewarded with a bountiful harvest and as the 

psalmist says, “We will reap with cries of joy.” 

We join with our psalmist who affirms,

“The Lord has done great things for us.” 

There is good news for us too -- 

we have the Messiah to lead us in our own 

spiritual Exodus, away from slavery to sin, 

and put us under the gentle yoke of Christ 

our Savior.

This is a message of hope; it is a calling that 

is future oriented. Isaiah, in Sunday's first 

reading, says the Lord is doing something 

new. (Isaiah 43:19)  St Paul, in the second 

reading, says that faith will lead us to an

“upward calling” in Christ. (Philippians 3:14)

For a better future we must do our part --

we must sow the seeds in order to gain 

repentance.  “Those who sow in tears shall 

reap rejoicing.”  Jesus did not condemn the 

woman caught in adultery – she is given a 

chance to repent and to pass from death 

to life. (John 8:10-11)  In the same way 

a seed dies and produces a harvest – 

“Those who go forth weeping, carrying 

sacks of seed, will return with cries of joy, 

carrying their bundled sheaves.”

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist speaks of the the Jewish captives being set free and

brought back from Babylon.  Tell of your own liberation this Lenten season 

from being captive to sin.

2.  The psalm contains a message of hope for us all -- that we shall reap 

joyfully in the days ahead.  Share how you expect to be raised up with the 

Lord as we approach our Easter celebration.

Psalm for Sunday, March 31, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7   (Read)

“Look to God that you may 

be radiant with joy, and your 

faces may not blush for shame.”

Where does our joy come from? 

How do we obtain a joyful spirit? 

It comes from repenting and 

returning to the Lord, just as the 

Prodigal son returns to his father

in this Sunday's Gospel 

reading. (Luke 15:11-32)

For our part, we too will be 

embraced by the Father if we

humble ourselves before Him, 

and confess our sins. Then He will 

take us back. 

 

Like the Prodigal's father, our Lord 

watches for us each day, encouraging 

us to lift our bodies out of our shame 

and return to Him, to be reconciled, 

to be restored, in a right relationship 

with the Father. 

 

“My soul will glory in the Lord,

that the poor may hear and be glad.”

The word poor is said to apply to one

who depends completely on God

for his deliverance and his very life.

That’s where we stand even today,

when we are short of endurance 

along our own spiritual journey.

The psalmist recounts for us how 

he gained deliverance, “I sought

the Lord, who answered me,

delivered me from all my fears.”

Despite the anguish in the psalmist’s 

voice, there is also a powerful, joyful 

spirit – “Look to God that you may 

be radiant with joy, and your faces 

may not blush with shame.”

Our Father watches for us each day, 

encouraging us. He reconciles us

and restores us, and He provides 

the inner strength we need to 

complete our own spiritual journey.

Amen

 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist looks to God so that his face may not blush for shame.  

Explain how you are overcoming your own shame this Lenten season, 

by looking to the Lord, repenting, and becoming radiant with joy.
  
2.  The Psalm's verses talk about those who are poor in spirit, totally 

dependent on God.   Speak about how you rely on the Lord for deliverance 

and are saved by the Lord.

Psalm for Sunday, March 24, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11  (Read)

“As the heavens tower over the earth,
so God's mercy towers over those
who fear Him.”

Our psalmist sings the praises of a
divine and loving God, who surrounds
us with compassion, pardons our sins,
heals our ills.

God will deliver us as He delivered the
Israelites from their affliction at the hands
of the Egyptians. (Exodus 3:7-8)
“God delivers your life from the pit,
surrounds you with love and compassion.”

God nurses no lasting anger,  He has not
dealt with us as our sins deserve. 
But God demands something of us
in return – that we cleanse ourselves
from evil desires and avoid sin.
St Paul warns us, “Whoever thinks
he is standing secure should take care
not to fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12) 
Jesus says it more powerfully in today's
Gospel, “If you do not repent, you will
all perish.” (Luke 13:5)

The Lord’s patience with us is a gift –
“Merciful and gracious is the Lord,
slow to anger, abounding in kindness.”
Our duty is to remain faithful to the Lord,
as His children, and to treat His anointed ones
with love and compassion, as He would do.

We are to be merciful to our enemies by
imitating Jesus.  Who can love their enemies,
and do good to them?  It will be difficult if
we allow our earthly nature to rule us.
Just as God has not dealt with us as our
sins merit, so must we have compassion
on those we may be inclined to condemn.

We cannot imitate God without a share
in Christ’s divinity, by allowing the Holy
Spirit within us to guide us.  Only then
will we have the kind of compassion the
Psalm speaks about.

And as our psalmist says, God’s love will
tower over us if we are his faithful.
If we love the Lord, it will show in our hearts,
and the old things will then pass away. 
What could be a better lesson for our
Lenten journey.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist assures us that God in His compassion will redeem our life
from the 'pit.'  But we must do our part and show repentance.  Describe how
during Lent you are becoming kinder and more merciful to your family and
your neighbors.

2.  The Psalm inspires us to bless the Lord and 'forget not all His benefits.' 
Speak of your gratitude for the gifts you have received from God.

Psalm for Sunday, March 17, 2019

Reflections 

Psalm 27:  1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14  (Read)

“Come, says my heart, seek God’s face;
Your face, Lord, do I seek!”

Our psalmist, David, puts into words
what we feel in our hearts, which is
to seek a right relationship with
the Lord.  We are drawn to the Lord;
we wish to speak to Him face to face,
to be in His presence, to listen to
His Word, and to serve Him faithfully.

We may not have the faith of Abraham
(Genesis 15:6),  but we know that
a right relationship with the Lord is
key for us, because without that close
relationship, we have little chance
of salvation.  Our psalmist knows the
critical importance of salvation,
“Do not forsake me, God, my savior.”

Few of us will be able to speak directly
with God, but God makes himself
accessible to us through His Son, Jesus.
And in this Sunday's 2nd reading,
St Paul promises that our own bodies
will be changed, to conform with Christ’s
glorified body. (Philippians 3:21)
This is how our own personal transfiguration
takes place.

What can we do to be sure we share in
Christ’s glory?  St Paul tells the brothers
in Philippi, “Stand firm in the Lord.” 
And our psalmist agrees, “Wait for the Lord,
take courage, be stouthearted, wait for
the Lord.”

What better way for us to stand firm in
the Lord than to commune with Him in
prayer, to worship Him, to be transformed
by Him, as were those disciples that day
when Jesus was transfigured on the
mountain. (Luke 9:29)  Having been
transformed, we, like the disciples,
will be emboldened in our faith --
“Of whom should I be afraid?”  
In our day to day battles against evil forces,
we need not fear anyone, for He is our refuge.

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist seeks God's face.  Does your heart seek a right
relationship with the Lord?  Speak of how you are drawn to the Lord,
and how He makes himself accessible to you.

2.  The season of Lent can be a time of transformation for us.  But we
cannot change our hearts by ourselves; we all need the Lord's help,
as does our psalmist, 'You are my helper; cast me not off.'   Tell of how
you are becoming a better person with the help of the Lord.

Psalm for Sunday, March 10, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 91:  1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15  (Read)

“Whoever clings to me I will deliver; 

whoever knows my name, I will set on high.”

This Sunday's Psalm is about God’s
protection of the faithful.  It applies to us 
who place ourselves under His protection 
along the path of life.  The psalmist
addresses us, “You who dwell in the shelter
of the Most High, say to the Lord, 'My refuge 
and fortress.'”

As mentioned in Sunday’s first reading, the 
Israelites were in great distress under the 
oppression of the Egyptians.  What the Lord 
did for them, He is prepared to do for us, 
“The Lord heard our cry and saw our 
affliction.”  (Deuteronomy 26:7)
In today's Gospel even the devil respects 
the power of God and His commitment to our 
security, when he quotes this verse of the Psalm, 
“For God commands the angels to guard you in
all your ways.”  (Luke 4:10)

And how do we obtain this level of protection 
amidst the snares along the way and the terror 
of the night?  We call upon the Lord, and we trust
in Him to deliver us, “Whoever clings to me I will 
deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high.”

St Paul proclaims a similar message in Sunday's 
second reading, “Everyone who calls on the name 
of the Lord will be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
The psalmist agrees and quotes the Lord,
“All who call upon me I will answer; I will be with 
him in distress; I will deliver and give him honor.”
What could be more reassuring than that?

Amen 


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist speaks about God's angels guarding us in all our ways.   
Give an example of how you have been borne up upon the wings of angels 
and given power physically or spiritually to trample down the devil and his minions.

2.  In the Psalm God says that if we cling to Him, He will deliver us and set us on high.  Tell of what it means to you to 'cling' to the Lord, and having done so, how have you been made free from evil that threatens you.